Condensing apparatus.



1. 1. BROWN.

CONDENSING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION r1151) JULY 31.1914.

1,230,557. Patented June 19, 1917.

4 SHEETS-SHEET l.

W/T/VESSES INVENTOR 1.]. BROWN.

CONDENSING APPARATUS.

APPLlCATlON FILED JULY 31, 1914.

1 230,557 Patented June 19, 1917.

4 SHEETSSHEET 2.

HIS/1 0R 1.]. BROWN.

CONDENSING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED 1ULY3I, 1914.

1,230,557. Patented June 19, 1917.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

WITNESSES INVENTOR A BY A g HIS lmfirs' J. 1. BROWN.

CONDENSING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 31. 1914.

1 ,230,557 Patented June 19, 1917.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

WITNESSES W M @MW T @FTTQE,

JOHN J. BROWN, OF NEWARK, NEWJ'ERSEY.

CONDENSIN G APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented one 119, 191i '7.

Application filed July 31, 1914. Serial No. 854,240.

in Condensing Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an apparatus for condensing steam, and more particularly to auxiliary devices employed in connection with the condenser proper, and the pump associated therewith, to produce a higher vacuum in the condenser proper, to materially increase the capacity of the pump, and also to reclaim the. heat of the steam employed in assisting the pump in withdrawing the non condensable vapors from the condenser by utilizing the heat of this steam to raise the temperature of the condensate.

In carrying out my invention, I prefer to employ a main condenser, a combined hydraulic air and condensate pump, and vacuum intensifier or augmentor devices placed in the line or connections between the main condenser and its pump.

The devices for intensifying or augmenting the vacuum preferably comprise a nozzle for the emission of a jet of steam for withdrawing or assisting in withdrawing the air and non-condensable vapors from the main condenser, and connections whereby the condensate and the non-condensable vapors are separately withdrawn fronrthe main condenser, and a combining chamber or auxiliary condenser, in which the condensate from the condenser is utilized to condense the jet of steam from the said nozzle, this steam being thus additionally utilized to raise the temperature of the condensate.

I am aware that it is not broadly new to employ'a jet of steam as a vacuum intensifier or augmentor, in a steam condensing system, but so far as the same has come to my knowledge, it is new to employ a jet of steam in conjunction with a combinin chamber or auxiliary condenser and a combined hydraulic air and condensate pump in such a manner that the rarefied non-condensable gases from the main condenser are compressed to such an extent as to materially increase the efficiency of the pump, the capacity of the pump being largely dependent upon the volume of the gas, and to also utilize the con-- densate from the main condenser, to condense the jet of steam, so that the temperature of the condensate is raised to a point where it may be returned directly to the boilers, if necessary or desirable.

A condensing apparatus made in accordance with my present invention is illustrated in the drawings forming part of this application, in which- Figure l is a partial side elevation and longitudinal cross section of a condenser and pump, and the connections between the same;

Figs. 2, 3, and 4 are similar views illustrating, respectively, modified forms of my invention.

Referring to the drawing, and particularly to Fig. -1 in carrying out my invention, I employ a condenser 10, which is illustrated as a surface condenser, and comprises a shell or casing 11, at the ends ofwhich there are suitable tube plates 12, in and extending between which there are condenser tubes 13, suitable water boxes 14 being connected at the respective ends of the shell, one of which, as is customary, is provided with an inlet and outlet for circulating water, one of these inlets being indicated at 15. The other circulating water connection is at the opposite side of the water box, and this, together with the inlet connection for the exhaust steam is not illustrated in this or either of the other figures of the drawing, this being unnecessary, inasmuch as these connections are well known requisites of surface condensers.

Associated with the condenser 10, I employ a pump 16, which is preferably a combined hydraulic air and condensatepump, of the rotary type, in which the air and other non-condensable vapors, together with the condensate from the condenser, are admitted 4 assess";

per end of this is suitably attached to the shell of the condenser, and the lower end is connected to the suction of the pump by an elbow :21, or otherwise. Passing through the port 22 of the shell of the condenser, and into the adjacent portion of the pipe 20, is an air and vapor discharge pipe 23. At its inner end, this is fitted with a cap or cover 2%, and the air discharge connection 23 terminates at its outer end in a mouth 26, adjacent the contracted portion of the pipe connection 20, the air discharge pipe 23 being suitably secured in position and spaced apart from the upper portion of the pipe 20, so as to leave an annular space 525 between the same.

The object of this construction is hat the air and other non-condensable vapors may be withdrawn from the condenser shell through the pipe 23 entirely independently of the condensate, which passes from the condenser shell, through the port 22, into the annular space 25, betweenthe air discharge pipe 23 and the upper portion of the pipe connection 20.

The walls of the outer or lower portion 27 oi the pipe connection 20 preferably diverge from its restricted central. portion, so as to form a combining chamber, as hereinafter described.

I also employ a steam pipe 28-, fitted with a valve 29, and leading from a suitable source of steam through the walls of the pipe connection 90 adjacent the condenser shell and also through the walls of the air discharge pipe 28, within which the end of the steam pipe is fitted with a nozzle 30 directed toward the restricted end or mouth 26 of the air discharge pipe 23.

In the operation of this apparatus, and as will be apparent, due to the fact that the air discharge pipe 28 is carried an appreciable distance into the shell of the condenser, the air and other non-condensable vapors are withdrawn from the condenser shell through the pipe 23 independently of the condensate which passes through the port 22 into the annular space 25 between the air discharge pipe 23 and that portion of the pipe connec tion 20 adjacent the condenser shell.

The action of the combined air and condensate pump. in withdrawing the air and other non-condensable vapors from the condenser shell, is materially assisted, as will be understood, by the action of the steam jet issuing from the nozzle 30, which acts as an ejector.

ln YlGW, also, of the restricted discharge orifice of the air discharge pipe 23, and due to the fact that as the steam and air and other vapors when withdrawn from the condenser and discharged from the pipe 23 are caused to commingle with the condensate at the discharge orifice ot the pipe 23 and witl't' in the combining chamber 2?, t re action of the steam jet also compresses the rarefied air and gases as the same are withdrawn from the condenser shell, thereby materially increasing the eiliciency of the pump, inasmuch as its capacity for handling the air and vapors is dependent upon the density of the same, and furthermore as the condensate and the steam from the nozzle 30 are caused to comminglein the combining chamber 27, the condensate is utilized to condense the jet of steam from the nozzle 30, which, as will be readily understood, raises its temperature, before the same reaches the pump, to such a point that, it necessary or desirable, the condensate may be returned directly to the boilers of the plant in which the condensing system is employed,

Referring to Fig. 2, it will be seen that l have illustrated a structure somewhat similar to that shown in Fig, i and described in connection therewith.

ln this form of the invention, I prefer to employ an auxiliary condenser indicatecl at 31. This is connected by a. pipe 32 fitted 'ith. a valve 33 to an independent condensate discharge port 34 in the shell of the condenser 10. The discharge of the auxiliary condenser is connected by an elbow 35, or otherwise, with the suction of the pump 16. in this form. of the invention, 1 also employ a pipe passing through a suitable port therefor provided in the shell of the condenser, terminating at an appreciable distance within condenser shell, and at its inner end titted with a cap or cover 87.

Connected to the outer end of the pipe 36 is a. valve 38, and connected to the Valve 38 is another pipe section 39, the pipe 39 being connected to the auxiliary condenser 31 by the pipes l0 and 11, he former being connected to the outer end of the pipe 39 and the latter to the auxiliary condenser 31 at the inlet port 42 thereof. :in this form of the invention, I also employ a steam pipe 43 fitted with a suitable valve a l, the pipe 43 aassing through the wall of the pipe and having secured thereto within the said pipe 40 a suitable nozzle 45 forejecting a jet of steam.

The operation or this apparatus is similar to that illustrated in Fig. l, and described in connection therewith, with the exception that the steam from the nozzle 45, with the air and other noncondensable vapors from the interior of the main condenser shell commingle with the condensate, and the steam from the nozzle 45 is condensed thereby, in the auxiliary condenser 31, before the same reaches the combined air and condensate pump 16, the auxiliary condenser bein provided with suitable bafie plates as, l and 4:8, or other means, to insure the proper commingling of these elements to condense the steam and permit the condensate to take up its heat before reaching the pump.

It is also to be noted that in this construction it will be necessary to leave considerable distance between the condenser shell and the adjacent end of the auxiliary condenser, in order to overcome any vacuum produced by the steam jet, and for this reason, as will be understood, this apparatus is not as efiicient as the one shown and described in connection with Fig. 1.

Referring to Fig. 3, the construction of the modified form of the apparatus therein illustrated is similar in all respects to that shown in Fig. 2, and, described in connection therewith, with the exception that I employ a separate or booster pump 49 for the condensate.

The suction of this booster pump 49 is con nected by a pipe 50, in which there is a suitable valve 51 directly with the discharge port for the condensate in the shell of the condenser, while the discharge from the booster pump is connected by a pipe 52, which leads therefrom to the" intake opening 53 in the side of the auxiliary condenser 31.

As will be readily appreciated, the object of employing the booster pump is to overcome any vacuum produced by the steam jet, and also to insure the condensate being delivered to the auxiliary condenser under all conditions.

Referring to Fig. 4, the modified form of the invention, therein illustrated, is also similar to that shown in Fig. 2, and described in connection therewith, with the exception that the suction of the pump 16 is directly connected to the port in the shell of the condenser for the discharge of the condensate by a pipe 54,,in which there is a suitable valve 55. The condensate discharge of the pump 16 is fitted with a pipe 56, in which there is a valve 57 and a pipe connection 58, in which there is a valve 59, extends between the discharge pipe 56 and the inlet port 60 in the side of the auxiliary condenser 31. As will be readily apparent, the pipe line 58, with the valves 57 and 59, acts as a quantity of the condensate which is dehvered to the auxiliary condenser, a part of the condensate being so delivered to condense the steam from the nozzle 45, and the other part of the condensate, not so utilized, passing directly by the pipe 56 to a hotwell, or elsewhere.

I claim as my invention 1. The combination with a condenser and a combined hydraulic air and condensate pump, of means through which the condensate iswithdrawn from the condenser, means through which the non-condensable vapors by-pas's to govern and control the are withdrawn from the condenser and entirely separately from the condensate, and devices whereby and wherein the non-condensable vapors are all compressed and mixed with the entire volume of the condensate, so that the entire condensateand the compressed non-condensable vapors are caused to mingle before they reach the pump.

2. The combination with-a condenser and 3. The combination with a condenser anda hydraulic air and condensate pump, of a pipe connection making communication between the interior of the condenser and the suction of the pump, and which, adj acent its central portion, is of restricted cross section, a vapor discharge pipe extending an appreciabledistance 1nto the interior of the condenser and also into the adjacent portion of the said pipe connection, and being concentric therewith, and a steam jet nozzle within the said vapor discharge pipe whereby thenon-condensable vapors are drawn,

into and compressed in the said vapor discharge pipe, and the condensate through the annular space between the same and the adj acent portion of the pipe connection and the compressed non-condensable vapors and the steam from said nozzle are caused to commingle with the condensate in the outer portion of the said ing the said pump.

4. The combination with a surface condenser and a combined hydraulic air and condensate pump, ing communication between the interior of the condenser and the suction of the pump, and being of restricted cross section adjacent its central portion, a vapor discharge pipe extending from a point an appreciable distance within the condenser to a point adjacent the restricted portion of the said pipe connection, that portion of the said vapor discharge pipe lying within the pipe connection being concentric therewith and thereby providin an annular discharge passage for the con ensate from the condenser terminating at the outer restricted end of the said vapor dischar pipe, and a steam jet nozzle located wit t e said vapor dispipe connection before reachof a pipe connection, makcharge pipe Within the outer restricted end of which she non-condenseble vapors are ch compressed by the steam from che said nozzle, the outer portion of said pipe connection comprises a combining chamber Where the compressed non-condensaioie vapors, and the steam from the said nozzle commingie with the condensate and the steam is condensed before the same reach e said pump 1 Signed by me this 25th day of J 111: 191%.

JQHN J. BRQWN.

Witnesses:

'W E. Blessed, E, L, Genome 

